A cloud of uncertainty surrounding the death of a Ringgold woman has landed her live-in boyfriend behind bars on murder charges.

According to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office:

Terry Wayne Saxton, 50, of 224 15B Knollwood Drive in Ringgold has been arrested on charges of murder, aggravated battery, and battery, after his girlfriend, 55-year-old Vicki LaCombe, was found dead in the couple’s apartment.

Saxton remains in Catoosa County jail with a bond set at $30,000.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the couple’s residence in Knollwood Village Apartments at approximately 11:46 p.m. on July 9 in regards to what they believed to be an apparent suicide, reports show.

Saxton told police he had left the residence the day before at approximately 11 a.m., and then returned home nearly 25 hours later to find his girlfriend unresponsive in the couple’s living room.

“Mr. Saxton stated that he entered the residence and found Ms. Lacombe deceased, and lying on the living room floor,” deputy F.B. Lamountain wrote in the report.

Additional deputies as well as emergency medics also arrived at the scene.

Further inspection of the residence revealed that more might have happened than was originally thought.

“When entering the residence, I observed several suitcases and packed bags setting beside the door, with an overturned end table next to the victim,” Lamountain said. “In the kitchen, I observed several broken plates in the sink, a broken picture frame, and shattered glass about the floor with the residence appearing as though a physical altercation had taken place.”

Details in the case are limited at this time, as detectives have classified the case as ongoing.

Autopsy results state that LaCombe’s official cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head and torso area.

More information in the case will be released as it is made available.